Using lay educators in a home visitation model proved very successful for a project funded by Avon Kids Care to reach women at risk for developing and dying from breast cancer. The Atlantic Region of the Cancer Information Service in collaboration with Fox Chase Cancer Center and a community-based organization developed lay educators training program for breast health. The aim of the one-year program was to (1) provide education and training in breast health to residents of a low-income (primarily African American) housing development and, (2) identify and women eligible for free mammograms. The outcome was the creation, of an innovative program that succeeded in building an infrastructure, within which community members could take advantage of the expertise of trusted friends and neighbors, identify and provide free mammography screening for women who were low-income. The program reached 471 women of which 377 agreed to an in-home education session on breast health. As a result nearly 60 women received mammograms on a mobile van among which 10 abnormals were found. This presentation will discuss the use of a training the lay educator as a potential model for reaching low-income women with cancer prevention and early detection messages and the benefit of working with the Cancer Information Service, a program of the National Cancer Institute
Learning Objectives: Participants attending this session will be able to recognize a key element in partnerships. Particiants attending this sessioin will be able to describe the role of the National Cancer Institutes Cancer Information Service's Partnership Program as an integral player in reaching underserved populations with cancer control programming. Participants completing this session will be able to discuss issues associated with capacity building when working with community-based organizations
Keywords: Access to Health Care, Breast Cancer Screening
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service, Atlantic Office
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Our program is a subcontract of the National Cancer Institute and allows the provision of free services to the general public.